by Samantha Swenson
Under a state government commission proposal, Illinois could soon give universities bonuses for admitting African-American and Latino students.
The recommendations by the Illinois Commission on Fair Funding for Public Universities aims to address “historical inequities” in education, “particularly among students from low-income households, students of color, students from rural communities and working adults,” According to to the press release.
Some higher education advocates, however, say the proposal, if adopted, could be unconstitutional.
As part of the fresh education funding formula, the commission’s report recommends that the Illinois Legislature award bonuses, or “equity adjustment amounts,” to universities to “encourage and support activities that increase retention and graduation among groups of students that have historically been underserved.”
Commission co-chair Pranav Kothari said in a press release that the funding model is “equity-based” to ensure that “institutions receive the funding they need to support the diverse needs of their student organizations and remove barriers to student access and success.”
The proposal recommends that universities receive an additional $6,000 for each African-American and Indian American student, $4,000 for each Hispanic student and each student of two or more races, and $2,000 for each rural student.
It also includes extra money for low-income students, adults and those with low high school GPAs.
“The committee worked intentionally and collaboratively to present recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly consistent with the statutory levy on the new funding formula,” the Illinois Board of Higher Education said in an emailed statement College amendment by spokesman José García.
Commission leaders “look forward to working with legislators as they evaluate the Commission’s report and supporting efforts to adequately, equitably, and sustainably fund the state’s public universities,” the council said.
The commission consists of 33 members, including state legislators, public university employees, students and representatives of education organizations.
Garcia did not respond Correction”the Commission’s questions on what the Commission believes will be the benefits of introducing a fresh funding formula and how the Commission would respond to legal concerns about race-based funding.
said Paul Vallas, a policy adviser at the Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization Correction in a recent email, the proposal may be unconstitutional. Vallas, a Democrat, is a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and a former budget director for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.
“Given the Supreme Court’s decision that college admissions based on race is unconstitutional, I believe that providing universities with additional public support based on race may also be unconstitutional,” he said.
Vallas said Correction: “However, the Supreme Court has made clear that socio-economic factors, such as income, can be taken into account when making admission decisions, which would help those most in need achieve a similar goal.”
Jonathan Butcher, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, expressed similar concerns in an email to Correction last week.
“These changes appear to clearly violate state and federal civil rights laws,” Butcher said. “The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year in the Student for Fair Admissions case that the use of racial preferences in college admissions is unconstitutional. “However, this Illinois proposal appears to be based on racial preferences.”
Butcher said the funding proposal violates federal law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Students, parents, taxpayers and lawmakers should be furious that officials plan to treat students differently based on race,” he said. Correction.
Vallas of the Illinois Policy Institute said the commission’s proposal does not solve the real problem in higher education: ” lack quality of school choices at the K-12 level.”
As a result, he said Correction students are “unprepared for higher education and are more likely to drop out. “Poor families, which are disproportionately Black and Latino, are most at risk.”
Correction He also contacted Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie and Senate Republican Leader John Curran twice in the past two weeks, asking for their views on proposals and higher education reform in the state. None replied.
Illinois public colleges and universities are required to develop and implement equity plans and practices in accordance with regulations House Bill 5464signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2022.
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Samantha Swenson is a graduate of Liberty University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Law and Politics: Pre-Law. He is attending Widener University Commonwealth Law School to pursue a Juris Doctorate beginning in Fall 2024.
Photo “Black Students” by Keira Burton.
